In every season to date the Endurance races have been a part of the back end of the championship, but in 2026 all of that changes as the sim world also embraces “Finals”. 

So what is new, what stays the same and what do we await the omens have in store for us this year.

Five hundred kilometres await us from one of the coldest and most blustery tracks on the sim, in the height of winter. Track temperature at the island is going to be stone cold and perhaps keep some energy out of rubber at a track which is a major issue for the tire whisperers up and down the grid.

We’re operating on the exact same driving time requirements that caused chaos last year with the trickiest timing possible on a Safety Car. Driving time minimum is 38 Laps, and maximum continuous is 57 laps. The fastest way to split the race last year was to have Main Driver start, Co-driver jump in and clear their laps by the end of lap 56 and Main Driver back in until the end.

However, last year the tank was short twelve very crucial litres compared to this year. That extra fuel mileage brings the Co-Drivers to the brink of completing their entire drive time inside a single stint. We’re talking maybe 100mL of fuel to be saved per lap to get their entire drive for the day done inside a single stint. The problem with this approach is the very specific windows to make it work and tire life.

Why and when would you make this ploy? You have a vast disparity in main and co-driver pace and an ability to make the tires last the stint. If your pace is a lot closer together putting the Co-Driver in for two stints just gives you that element of flexibility.

Either way, keeping that in the back of your mind during the race will be key. Look for drivers attempting to take weight and load off the car at all of the fast left handers. Southern Loop, Stoner, Lukey Heights and the final corner will be the critical places. Any pinching of front right tires at all of the rest will be critical to making this work as well.

Last year would see an awesome fight back through the field for the Lobs Esports cars as they were forced to take an extra pit stop under Safety Car in the middle of the race to clear their Co-Drivers as early as possible.

For us this meant overtaking and a bit of spice added to the race. For the drivers, engineers and teams it meant a little bit of extra strategy and awareness. This year 12 Litres changes that up a little bit, but opens the door slightly.

When speaking to Jarrad Filsell after Jerez in 2025 Lobs Esports hadn’t done a full fuel run on the tire and found out in the race that the tire just wouldn’t last the fuel distance. This is a risk again at Phillip Island, expect them to have done their homework this time around. It's very rare to catch these guys napping once, it won’t happen again.

Co-drivers are going to be under a lot of scrutiny. Either they have what it takes to get the elbows out and go racing, or they are going to be asked to save tire and fuel to the utmost whilst still maximising track position in the highest stress game of all. It’s a special thing to be asked to drive someone else’s race car as a critical piece in the championship puzzle, that becomes nigh impossible when questions get asked of their strategy capability. Someone will try the alternative strategy, I expect someone to blow a tire.

I’m not going to make a race prediction here, I’ll save that for after a few more nights of silently watching practice sessions and making notes. Qualifying pace isn’t everything, but it certainly helps a lot and eases pressure on the drivers, and make no mistake this place is tough to pass for the best guys.

Well at this point I would normally be saying see you all Wednesday night, but this week Fire Up on Friday (and probably light a fire with some popcorn!). Phillip Island kicks off the first round of the Trueforce Endurance Cup and the largest hunk of points on the calendar. Finals won’t be decided over the next three rounds, but they will be setup!

See you all Friday at 7.45pm AEST.